MARSHFIELD — Ron Bauer provides a service thatís not often found ó he sells and installs satellite television and custom audio/video systems. Bauer also personally services all systems he sells.

The mission at Home Satellite Center LLC is to provide each customer with the best television entertainment, whether it be DISH TV, Direct TV or Charter services to meet a personís needs, Bauer said.

Question: What does your business do, and why is it special?

Answer: I sell TV entertainment. I also offer high-speed Internet via satellite. Every year I have owned the store, I have added something. The store was Dish Network when I bought it five years ago. One year I added Direct TV, another year Charter and another year Internet. Last year, I added U-Haul. A business either grows or it dies, so I keep the business growing.

(An important feature of the business is that Bauer listens to his customers and either recommends a product or designs a system to meet their specific needs.)

The biggest thing for customers is that they donít use any ď800Ē numbers. (The big TV providers) are not local. When you call us, you get someone here in this office. If you have problems, you have someone local to talk to. I service what I sell, and I take the extra time to make sure it looks nice. I also teach you everything you need to know to run the machine, and if you have questions later, all you need to do is give me a call. Since I carry all of the vendors, I donít have to push a customer to a certain product. I just figure out which avenue is best for their situation.

Q: Why have you chosen central Wisconsin as a place to do business?

A: When I was in college, the previous owner and I were selling Dish Network for another retailer. Then we opened up this store together, and I helped him to get it started.

(Following college, Bauer worked at different sales careers, eventually settling in Stratford, marrying and starting a family. As a U.S. Army Reservist, Bauer served in Afghanistan for a year and a half. When he came back, he wanted a job that didnít involve being on the road.)

I heard this was for sale and I bought it. It was a good move.

Q: What does your business bring to the local economy and community?

A: I offer people the opportunity to make choices without the pressure to buy a certain product. I offer basically hometown service rather than calling an 800 number and talking to someone in a different country.

Q: Whatís your long-term vision for the company?

A: I honestly am not sure. When I first bought this store, there were two satellite dealers, and now there are more. The technology is changing, and thereís a need to be flexible and adapt.

Q: What might people be surprised to learn about you, your business or your employees?

A: We fit a lot into this small space. It was a former gas station. Right now, itís me and an associate. Iím updating the inside and outside of the building because it is time.